Apparatus for separating gas from oil and water



Oct. 22, 1929. v. F. CHANCELLOR ET AL 1,732,499

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM OIL AND WATER Original Filed Jan. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 30 iH-ll 1 "ml-:5 552 L EZarI'YQ/umwllor wsezlaszzmbauwng 22, 1929.. v. F. CHANCELLOR ET AL. 1,732,499

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GAS FROM OIL AND WATER 2 Sheets-Sheet Griginal Filed Jan. 5, 1926 (Jul/266 mfleimammfiflzwem;

11 IORNI 3 1.\'l 'LNTORS Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VICTOR F. CHANCELLOR AND SEBASTIAN L. CALVERT, 0F BBISTOW, OKLAHOMA APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING- GAS FROM OIL AND WATER @riginal application filed January 5, 1926, Serial No. 79,461. Divided and this application filed June 11,

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating gas from oil and water and is a division of our application filed January 5, 1926, Serial No. 79,461, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as herelnafter set forth, during the pumping operation with respect to an oil well, the automatic separation of the gas from the oil and water and for the discharge of the separated gas independent of the oil and water from which the gas is separated.

l urther objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner hereinafter set forth an apparatus for separating gas which is comparatively simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, strong, durable, thoroughly etlicient in its use, readily installed with respect to the working barrel of a pump, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other'objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement ot parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodirnent oi the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications in the construction can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended,

in the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure l is an elevation ot a separator, in accordance with this invention.

- l igures 2, E2 and :2", when taken together, illustrate in longitudinal sect-ion a separator, in accordance with this invention.

Figures 3 and a are respectively sections on lines 3-3 and ll, Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively sections on lines 5-5 and 66, Figure 2 lhigures 7 and 8 are respectively sections on lines 7'l and S 8, Figure 2".

l'llclerring to the drawings, the apparatus Serial No. 1 1 5,302.

comprises a conducting tube 1 of appropriate diameter and which is connected at its upper end to and communicates with the working barrel 2 of an oil well pump. The barrel 2, at its lower end, is peripherally threaded, as at 3. The conducting tube 1 is of appropriate length and is open at its lower end. The tube 1 provides means for conducting a body or head of oil for discharge as well as for conducting a body or head of water for discharge, and the body of oil is discharged independently of the discharge ot the body of water, or in other words the said bodies are alternately discharged from the apparatus.

Surrounding the conducting tube 1 and of materially greater diameter than the diameter thereof, is a tubular casing 4 having a tapered upper end 5, formed with a peripherally threaded annular collar 6, which is connected to the worlring barrel 2 by an in teriorly threaded coupling sleeve l, which connects the casing l with and suspends it from the lower end of the working barrel 2. The collar 6 and sleeve 7 are oi materially greater diameter than the conducting tube l, The casing l has its lower end positioned substantial distance above the lower end of the conducting tube 1, and. abutting against the lower end of the casing l as well as cured therewith, in a manner to be presently referred to, is a closure dish: 8 of substantial thickness and ot the same iameter as the outer diameter out the casing it, The dish: 8 is formed with a centrally disposed opening '9 oil substantial diameter and which. has the ripheral threads ll.

Threadedly engaging with. the threads ill, on the casing 4-, is a combined securing and suspension member, referred to generally by the reference character 12?; and. which. de

its

peripherally threaded collar, an intermediate tapering portion 14 and an interiorly threaded upper portion 15, which threadedly engages with the lower terminalportion of the casing 4 and the threads 10' on the outer edge of the disk 8, and by this arrangement the latter is maintained in position against the lower end of the tube 4 and further said member 12 is secured'in suspended position. The disk 8, at a point between the opening 9 and its outer edge, is formed with a vertically disposed opening 16v of materially less diameterthan the opening 9, and said opening 16 has the wall thereof threaded throughout. The purpose of the openings 9 and 16 will be presently referred to.

Arranged below the member 12 and of appropriate length is a tubular element 17, closed at its bottom, as at 18, and which provides a receiving chamber 19 for the separated oil or the separated water and from said chamber 19 the oil or water is drawn up through the conducting tube 1 by the suction action of the pump. The tubular element 17 is provided at its upper terminal portion with eripheral threads 20 and engaging these atter and the collar 13 is an interiorly threaded coupling sleeve 21 for securing the tubular element 17 with the member 12.

The casing 4, at a point between its transverse center and its upper end is formed withsuperposed sets of circumferentially extend- 111g openings 22 providing inlets for a body of gas, oil and water, and the tapered por-- tion 5 of the casing 4 is formed with superposed sets of circumferentially extending openings 23, which provide outlets for the separated gas.

Secured to the threaded wall of the opening 9 is a vertically extending tube24 of less length than the length of the casing 4 and of a length to extend above the'inlets .22. The tube 24 is of. appropriate inner diameter to provide in connection with the conducting tube 1 an oil passage 25. The tube 24 is flush at its lower edge with the lower face of the disk 8, is open at its upper and lower ends and discharges into a directing chamber 26 at a point above the inlet end of the conducting tube 1, and t e latter extends down through the directin chamber 26 and terminates at the upper end of the receiving chamber 19. The tube 24, in connection with the casing 4, provides a collecting chamber for the oil and water and which also acts as a sand trap for any sand which is in the body of gas, oil and ,water when such body is drawn into the easing 4 through the inlets 22. The collecting chamber 27 is of less height than the casing 4.

Secured in the upper part of the opening 16 is the lower end of a vertically disposed substantially U-shaped siphoning tube, re-

ferred to generally by the reference character 28 and which is of materially less height than the height of the collecting chamber 27. The outer leg of the siphoning tube is indicated at 29, and the inner leg at 30. The leg 29 is of greater length than the leg 30 and said leg 29 is secured to the wall of the opening 16. The inlet end 31 of the leg 30 is positioned a substantial distance above the bottom of the collecting chamber 27 and the said bottom is formed by the disk 8. Connected in the lower portion of the opening 16 and depending from the disk 8 is an inclined discharge nozzle 32, which opens into the lower end of the directing chamber 26. The siphoning tube 29 communicates with the upper end of the nozzle 32.

The oil level is indicated at A. The water level is indicated at B. The travel'of the gas is indicated by the arrows C. The arrows D indicate the entering of the body of gas, oil and water into the casing 4. The arrows E indicate the travel of the Water, and the arrows F indicate the travel of the oil. The arrows C show the course taken by the gas after it has been agitated out ofthe oil by being drawn through lhlets 22 and escaping through the outlets 23 to the outside of the separator.

With reference to the operation of the separator, it is well known that in oil field pumping operations, that all fluid is very seldom pumped from the well before the pumping operation is discontinued or shut down, and that if at any time when all fluid is pumped or drawn from the well, the operation of the pumping apparatus is stopped and remains dormant until the fluid again accumulates in the well, at which time the pumping action is then started.

It will be noted that the function of the separator is to provide for the discharge of the gas independent of the water and oil and for the independent discharge of the oil with respect to the water, before either or all has entered the working barrel 2, to over- Come the objection that when the gas combincd with the oil and water enters the barrel 2, it causes the oil to cut or form an emulsion and which decreases the value of the oil.

The combined body of gas, oil and water enters at 22 and the'gas rises to the level of the liquid and the rise of the gas is assisted by agitation due to the rise and fall of the level body of gas, oil and water when said body enters the casing at the inlet 22.

The separation of the oil and water and alternate discharge theroit' is obtained in the following manner:

The water and oil accumulates, the oil 4 above the water, in the chamber 27 until the oil overflows at A, the water at this time beingbelowthe point B. The distance between points A and B is such that oil will overflow into the tube 24 before the siphon will start operation. As long as the water remains below the point B, the oil is being pumpedout. When the water reaches the point B the discharge of oil stops and water adapted to be suspended from and closed atits upper end to the working barrel of a well pumping apparatus, a tubular element suspended from said casing, closed at its lower 'endand having its upper end closed by the bottom of said casing, a conducting pipe common to oil and water and leading from said element, through said casing to said working barrel, said casing provided above its transverse median with eircumferentially a disposed inlets for a combined body of gas,

oil and water, the upper portion of said casing providing a passage for the upward flow of the as separated from such combined body, oil and water carrying ofi' means within said casing and opening into said element for elevating and lowering the level of the oil within the casing to provide for the agitation of the liquid to assist the gas to rise to the level of the oil, arm said casing having its upper end provided with outlets for the discharge therefrom ot the separated gas.

2'. An apparatus for separating gas from a combined body of gas, oil and water coinprising a casing closed at its lower end and adapted to be suspended from and closed at its upper end to the working barrel of a well pumping apparatus, a tubular element suspended itrom said casing, closed at its lower end and having its upper end closed by the bottom of said casing, a conducting pipe com mon to oil and'water and leading from said element, through said casing to said working barrel, said. casing provided above its transverse median with circumferentially disposed inlets for a combined body of gas, oil andwater, the upper portion of said casing providing a passage for the upward flow of ,the gas separated from such combined body,

oil and water carrying off means within said casing and opening into said element for elevating and lowering the level of the oil within the casing to provide for the agitation of the liquid to assist the gas to rise to the level of the oil, and said casing having its upper end provided with outlets for the discharge therefrom of the separated gas, said upper end of said casing being of conoidal contour and said outlets being formed therein.

3. An apparatus for separatinggas from a combined body of gas, oil and water comprising a casing adapted to have its upper end suspended from and closed to the working barrel of a well pumping apparatus, a closure for the bottom of said casing formed with a central opening, a vertically disposed tubular member, open at each end and arranged Within and of less height than said casing, said member having its lower end secured to the wall of said opening and forming in connection with said casing a receiving chamber, a tubular element suspended from said casing and closed at its ends, a conducting p-ipe com-' mon to oil and water'and leading from said element through said member to the working barrel, said casing provided above its transverse median with inlets for a combined body of gas, oil and water, the upper portion of said casing providing a passage for the upward flow of the gas separated from such combined body, oil and water carrying ofi' means within said chamber and opening into said element for elevating and lowering the level of the oil within said chamber to provide for the agitation of the liquid to assist the gas to rise to the level of the oil, and said casing having its upper end provided with outlets for the discharge therefrom of the separated gas.

4:- An apparatus for separating gas from a combined body of gas, oil and water comprising a casing adapted to have its upper end suspended from and closed to the working barrel of a well pumping apparatus, a closure for the bottom of said casing formed with a central opening, a vertically disposed tubular member, open at each end and arranged with in and of less height than said casing, said member having its lower end secured to the wall of said opening and forming in connection with said casing a receiving chamber, a tubular element suspended from said casing and closed at its ends. a conducting pipe common to oil and water and leading from said element through said member to the working barrel, said casing provided above its transversemedian with inlets for a combined body of gas, oil and water, the upper portion of said casing providing a passage for the upward flow of the gas separated from such combined body, oil and water carrying 0H means within said chamber and opening into said element for elevating and lowering the level of the oil within said chamber to provide for the agitation of the liquid to assist the gas to rise to the level of the oil, and said casing having its upper end provided with outlets for the discharge therefrom of the separated gas, said inlets disposed in spaced, circumferentially extending rows, and the upper end of said casing of conoidal contour and said outlets arranged therein in superposed, spaced, circumferential rows.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

SEBASTIAN L. CALVERT. VICTOR F. CHANCELLOR. 

